Many indoor cat owners hear "my cat never goes out" as a reason to skip shots. A boarding stay changes that math, because it puts your cat in a building with other cats for the first time in a while.
What the guidelines say about indoor cats
The AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidelines, summarized by the Cat Fanciers' Association, state that core vaccines are recommended for every cat regardless of environment or lifestyle. Lifestyle changes the non-core list, such as feline leukemia vaccine for adult cats with outdoor access, but it does not remove rabies or FVRCP. FVRCP covers three viruses: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.
The guidelines also note that strictly indoor cats may be more susceptible to some infectious diseases because they have never met them. That is one more reason to check the dates on the certificate before a trip.
Why a stay is different from a normal week at home
At home your cat shares air and surfaces with the people and pets who live there. In a cattery it shares a building with cats from other households. Current core vaccines are the baseline protection for that setting. Rabies is also the vaccine tied to public health rules, and the CDC points to pet vaccination as a main way rabies risk stays low for pets and people.
This page covers the indoor-cat question. For the full required list and paperwork steps, see which vaccines a cat needs for boarding.
What Happy Paws asks for
The kennel confirms every reservation, so upload the certificates when you send the booking request. Boosters given after you book can be sent as soon as you have them.
- Rabies and FVRCP for every cat, indoor-only cats included.
- Records that show the vaccines will not expire during the stay.
- Cats 16 weeks or older before the first day, with all the vaccines recommended for their age.
- Records uploaded to your ProPetware account, emailed, or brought to the first check-in.
A quick date check before you book
- Find the rabies and FVRCP dates on your cat's last veterinary receipt or certificate.
- Count to your pick-up day, not your drop-off day. A vaccine that expires on day three of a seven-night stay does not meet the rule.
- If a booster is due, schedule it now. Some cats are tired or off their food for a day after a shot, and it is easier at home than on the first night away.
- Upload the records and request the dates. A cat condo is $35 a night on the 2026 rates, with medications and house food included.